Nov. 2, 2009

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Three Memphis men's tennis netters (Michael Gaerthoeffner, Leon Nasemann and Spencer Heflin) all won their draw's respective consolation championship at the Crimson Tide Invite on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Gaerthoeffner, Nasemann and Heflin all finished the tournament with a record of 3-1 after winning their repsective singles flight's consolation bracket.

Nasemann, a junior from Wuppertahl, Germany, opened the main draw with a 6-1, 6-2, loss to Kentucky's Alex Musialek. Musialek played No. 4 singles for the 15th-ranked Wildcats during the 2009 spring season.

In the first round of consolation play, the Memphis netter upended Jacksonville State's Bryan Kenyon, after Kenyon was forced to forfeit the match after the first set.

In the second round of the consolation bracket, Nasemann defeated Tennessee tech's Alex Chen, 6-2, 6-2. Chen, a native of Uzbekistan, played No. 3 singles for the Golden Eagles, who were a ranked team two seasons ago.

In the championship match of the consolation bracket, Nasemann upended Alabama's Ricky Doverspike in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. Doverspike played No. 6 singles last year for the 16th-ranked Crimson Tide.

Gaerthoeffner, a junior from Rheine, Germany, opened up the main flight with a three set loss to Alabama's Michael Thompson, 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3. Thompson, a sophomore from South Africa, played the No. 3 and No. 4 singles spots for Alabama last season.

In the first round of the consolation draw, Gaerthoeffner defeated Tennessee's Max Stevens, 6-0, 6-2.

In second round play, Gaerthoeffner upended Tennessee Tech's Oscar Pachon, 6-2, 7-5. Pachon played the No. 5 spot for Tennessee Tech last season.

In the championship match, Gaerthoeffner took down Southern Miss' Strate Krstevski, played No. 5 and No. 6 singles for the Golden Eagles, who were ranked as high as No. 74 last season according to collegetennisonline.com

Spencer Heflin opened up the main draw with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to UAB's John Hollimon.

In the first round of the consolation draw, Heflin defeated Middle Tennessee's Alex McCann, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4. McCann played the No. 5 and No. 6 slots for the 57th-ranked Blue Raiders last season.

In the second round, Heflin upended Tulane's Chris Sommers, 6-0, 6-1.

In the finals match of the consolation bracket, Heflin defeated Georgia Southern's Sebastien Felt, 6-3, 6-3.

In other singles action, David Henry won two matches in his bracket. In the first round of the main draw, Henry defeated UTC's Stephen Crofford, 6-3, 7-5.

In second round play, Henry upended Tennessee Tech's Arturo Santo, 6-4, 6-0.

Henry fell in the third round to UAB's Dan Coreni, 6-2, 6-4.

The Tigers fall season ended with the conclusion of the Crimson Tide Invite. Memphis will return to action in the Spring with the South Florida Invitational from Jan. 15 to Jan. 17 in Tampa, Fla.